Current Trends Update: Influenza Activity -- United States

Alaska: Alaska reported widespread outbreaks of influenza-like
illness for the weeks ending November 30, and December 7, 1985, and
was the only state to report outbreaks for either week. Sixteen
viruses isolated from patients involved in ongoing outbreaks
throughout the state have been preliminarily identified as
influenza
type A(H3N2).

Hawaii: Influenza type A(H1N1)virus was isolated from
7-year-old boy on the island of Oahu who had onset of illness
around
November 20; no further cases have been detected.

New York: Influenza type A(H3N2) virus was isolated from an
11-year-old Rochester boy with influenza-like illness. This case,
with onset in mid-November, was the only one associated with
influenza
virus, although the laboratory has identified respiratory syncytial
virus from several recent cases of febrile respiratory illness in
children.

Texas: Influenza type B virus was isolated from a 40-year-old
Houston man with typical influenza-like illness. The man had onset
of
illness November 14; no further cases have been detected.
Reported by D Ritter, Northern Regional Laboratory, JP Middaugh,
MD,
State Epidemiologist, Div of Public Health, Alaska Dept of Health
and
Social Svcs; G Kobyashi, G Kunimoto, Virology Section, Laboratories
Br, AP Liang, MD, State Epidemiologist, Hawaii Dept of Health; CB
Hall, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center, DL Morse, MD,
State
Epidemiologist, New York State Dept of Health; Influenza Research
Center, Baylor University School of Medicine, Houston, CE
Alexander,
MD, State Epidemiologist, Texas Dept of Health; Div of Field Svcs,
Epidemiology Program Office, Influenza Br, Div of Viral Diseases,
Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC.

Editorial Note

Editorial Note: The reports above document the current circulation
in
the United States of the three major types of influenza virus that
have caused outbreaks in recent seasons. Available influenza
vaccines
include components representing each of these influenza types.
Despite the occurrence of type A(H3N2) outbreaks in Alaska, it is
not
possible to predict which influenza virus type will be most active
in
the continental United States during the coming season or the level
of
activity that may occur. Health-care personnel should continue
efforts to vaccinate persons in high-risk groups who have not yet
received the 1985-1986 immunization and continue their contingency
planning for deploying the available antiviral agent, amantadine,
in
the event that outbreaks of type A influenza occur among their
high-risk patients. Particular attention should be given to the
revised amantadine dosage recommendations (100 mg/day) for persons
aged 65 years and older (1).

Reference

ACIP. Prevention and control of influenza. MMWR
1985;34:261-8,
273-5.

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